A Great War 'Mesopotamia operations' C.M.G. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J....

A Great War ‘Mesopotamia operations’ C.M.G. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. White, Indian State Railways, who served as Director of Railways, Mesopotamia during the Great War, was Mentioned in Despatches, and subsequently died in Jersey during the German Occupation in August 1942 The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, converted for neck wear, with neck riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue (the case originally designed to hold a breast badge, but with a new insert for a neck badge); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. J. H. White.); Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, the reverse engraved ‘Capt. J. H. White, 2/24th. N.W. Ry. Bn. I.D.F.’, with integral top brooch bar, in case of issue, extremely fine (4) £1,200-£1,600 --- C.M.G. London Gazette 15 August 1917: ‘For services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field in Mesopotamia.’ John Henry White was born on 17 February 1868 and was educated at Coopers Hill College and the Royal Indian Engineer College. He entered the Public Works Department of India as an Assistant Engineer on 1 October 1891, and was appointed Superintending Engineer, North West Railway in September 1914. Having initially joined the Burma Railway Volunteer Corps as a Lieutenant on 21 July 1899, and promoted Captain, North West Railway Volunteers on 24 October 1902, he served during the Great War as a temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, Special List, from 25 May 1916, whilst simultaneously holding the appointment of Director of Railways, Mesopotamia, from April 1916; consequently, he was in command of the Railways during part of the Mesopotamia campaign, where the railways played a key role in supporting and supplying the field army. For his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 15 August 1917), and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Post-War, White served as Officiating Agent, East Bengal Railways, and Chief Engineer, India State Railways, from December 1919, and was awarded the Indian Volunteer Forces Decoration on 14 July 1923. He retired in August 1923, and subsequently moved to Jersey. Following the occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War he refused to evacuate the Islands, and died in Jersey whilst under German Occupation on 27 August 1942. Sold with copied research.